Game Development Community

Combo pack I'd like to see

by Rob Terrell · in General Discussion · 11/11/2004 (4:05 pm) · 10 replies

Like many on this board, I'm just a programmer. I can tweak art in photoshop, but it would be wrong and foolish of me to screw around in Milkshape for longer than it takes to finish the chapter in the Finney book. It's just an enormous time-sink. But...

I'm working on my game concept and I really want to convey (to the artists, to the other coders, to the world) what I'm really thinking. Once they get the ideas behind it all, they can contribute meaningfully. However, the orc isn't helping me too much. I have to ask people to make leaps of faith, having conversations like "this orc repesents the player; these orcs are on the player's side; this giant orc represents the big dragon; no, that orc actually is just an orc."

I've read some recent threads dissing combo packs. I respectfully disagree. I think we need more combo packs! Specifically, I think we need a combo pack that combines:

- A nifty environment
- A couple of buildings (from Timothy Aste, I beg of you)
- Three or four character models from a couple of genres (Will Harrison, get your biohazard guy in here!)
- Some objects that do interesting things (transform, affect the game world, etc.) via scripting
- A useful vehicle that fits the above characters and environment

...for $100.

Please... alongside a dozen deep content packs, give me ONE shallow pack with a little bit of everything. Yes: I'm greedy, lazy, AND cheap. But mostly ignorant and in need of good examples to learn from.

#1
11/11/2004 (5:29 pm)
Wow, that would be quite a combo pack. :) Great idea.

Actually, that would be more like making a small game, eh? Maybe, instead of making individual assets and selling them in a group, make a complete working mini-game where everything's working cohesively.... ie. scripts, objects, characters, environments. Actually, it's kinda like the RTS pack, come to think of it.

I guess and FPS or RPG pack would be the next thing.
#2
11/11/2004 (5:36 pm)
We need more Code Packs too... like the Lighting Pack.

I'd like to see:

Physics Pack - ragdoll physics, object physics, etc.
AI Pack - different path finding algorithms, adaptive behaviour, etc.
#3
11/11/2004 (5:39 pm)
@Will: As far as I am aware, there is a pretty hefty team of community members working on a strong AIPack.
#4
11/11/2004 (5:40 pm)
Hire more interns !
j/k

good ideas
#5
11/11/2004 (5:41 pm)
I agree, a combo pack for coders to prototype games with ready made content in one pack is a great idea. They can even be "lightly" themed(ie, RTS stuff, medieval theme, futuristic theme, etc).

What about a code pack on functions that allow for direct manipulation of DTS objects inside the engine, like using morph targets, for example?
#6
11/11/2004 (5:53 pm)
Good ideas, keep 'em coming please. :)

Just to note, I'm now the "Director of Third-Party Development" here, so handling this kind of my stuff is my bag. So, everyone please feel free to email me at joshw@garagegames.com if you have a solid idea or start on a good content pack, code pack, starter kit, or tool (or plug-in or article or book, eventually. :) I gave a speech on this stuff at IGC, and hopefully we'll start seeing more and more of these kinds of things!

This is kind of stuff is part of the way we can all help each other out, "world domination through collaboration", so it's great to see people excited about seeing more extensions, examples, and tools both for free and for sale.
#7
11/11/2004 (5:56 pm)
I was just goin to say you should contact Josh about this but I see he beat me to it.

I'd be interested in participating in something like this, but not organizing it heh heh. :-)
#8
11/12/2004 (2:01 pm)
The ultimate pack IS coming from what I understand.
#9
11/13/2004 (12:33 am)
Quote:
Physics Pack - ragdoll physics, object physics, etc.
AI Pack - different path finding algorithms, adaptive behaviour, etc.
Yes - i need them to.
#10
12/13/2004 (3:08 pm)
So hey, thanks to the Bravetree guys. http://www.garagegames.com/pg/product/view.php?id=51 Not absolutely everything I asked for above, but certainly a kick-ass start. I'm on the road this week but I'll definitely be buying this when I get my paws on the company credit card.